Grumpy Old Thieves

GOING IN STYLE (2017)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

Remakes are more than a dime a dozen now, they are a penny a dozen. Everything is being remade now, including films you never imagined would face a makeover or re-imagining. "Endless Love," anybody? I had my doubts about a new "Going in Style" but my doubts went south and my enjoyment went way north. Enjoyably urgent in its own way and smoothly crafted, "Going in Style" is merely an excuse to showcase three acting elderly giants having some fun. Good excuse.

Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Alan Arkin are the three elderly, retired Brooklyn men who are losing their pensions from the steelworker mill they used to work for. The bank has bought the mill, and is taking their jobs to Vietnam (I am amazed that this plot detail, a fact of life for many in 2017, did not get more traction in the press.) Caine forges a plan to rob a bank (after being in the middle of a bank robbery in the film's opening scene) so they can live comfortably, after all, there are no more pension funds and Caine's house is facing eviction. Freeman is behind the plan, hoping to see his out-of-state granddaughter more often, but Arkin wants no part of it. The threesome try to steal from the local grocery store but such small-time thievery proves they are not ready for a bank heist. Well, this is a movie so...things change.

Gone is the bittersweet reality of the original 1978 Martin Brest film where tragedy eventually befell a couple of the older men. 2017 invites some measure of hope and asks that we sympathize with these 3 codgers, and the beauty of the film is that we do (or at least I did). I was hoping that they would be able to accomplish their heist without a hitch (well, there is one little hitch having to do with a wristwatch). The reason being that no one in their right mind (who faces pension troubles or are worried about their future pensions) would not identify with their all-too-real plight. The Grumpy Old Thieves feel justified in committing this heist and we agree with them.

Directed by Zach Braff with conventional whimsy ("Garden State"), there are no real surprises in "Going in Style" and just about anybody can guess what will happen from one scene to the next. I was still taken in by the cast, including a wily Michael Caine; an exhausted Morgan Freeman who needs a new kidney and shows a level of uncertainty at his birthday party, and an exasperated Alan Arkin who is grumpy to the 10th power. Arkin's character loves watching TV's "The Bachelor" and yet keeps resisting the charms of an adoring grocery clerk (played none other than by Ann-Margret who is as bewitching as ever). The movie is simply charming and never overdone, and has a few decent laughs. I've said it before (and I think I made the same comment when reviewing "Last Vegas") but what the heck, I'll say it again:

"Some movies that offer a few laughs and an appealing cast is more than you can expect in the current cinematic landscape that often can't be bothered to offer the minimum."

Thankfully this Scrooge's Heart is in the right place

MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL (1992)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

You can't help but notice that Michael Caine's Ebenezer Scrooge is not that angry, not too aggressive, not too wrapped up in dismissing Christmas altogether. That is certainly welcome in this 1992 adaptation of Charles Dickens' seemingly anti-Christmas novel that aims to bring us down only to lift our spirits at the end. The difference this time is that the Muppets have fun with Dickens, they basically keep the spirit lively throughout without sacrificing Scrooge's emotional catharsis.

As I noted, Caine's Scrooge is not depicted as a miser in the strictest sense - there is something playful about Caine in this movie. There is almost a slight gleam in his eyes, a sense that he is not that miserable, just fed up. We all know Michael Caine can play a fed up individual like nobody else, that is the inherent charm in all this. Not to mention Gonzo the Great as Charles Dickens, an inspired stroke in this oft-told tale, as he breaks down the fourth wall and narrates the story. Rizzo the Rat is the Greek chorus, as he is frequently in front of too many windows peering in before getting slammed in the face when the windows are flung open. Kermit the Frog is Bob Cratchit but with less Cratchity nuance and more Kermit wincing and hoping to please his employer as only Kermit can play him (would we want it any other way?) Less memorable are Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit and Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig - somehow their scenes don't sizzle and that may be due to them underplaying their roles. Most enjoyable are Statler and Waldorf (the Muppet hecklers) as the Marley Brothers (one brother is of course named Bob. Ha!) Sam the Eagle is very funny as the Headmaster during Scrooge's flashbacks as a boarding school student - his double takes had me roaring with laughter.

I have to say the songs are terrific and play well amidst the occasionally (and purposely) tough material ("Thankful Heart" is my favorite song of the bunch). It is Michael Caine though who is the star of this show. Never once does he play the character for laughs or parody - he plays it seriously yet just this side of nuanced playfulness. The emotions are strong but not too overplayed. This is still the Muppets after all.